Girdle supporting means



May 19, 1942. N. M. PFANN GIRDLE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 19:59

NEAL MOLl/Vf Pm/v/v Gttomeg Patented May 19, 1942 emote SUPPORTING MEANSApplication September 21, 1939, Serial No. 295,866

2 Claims. (01. 24-248) means therefor.

It is well known that girdles, particularly those composed of two-waystretch material possess the objectionable characteristic of rollingdown at the waistline of the wearer. Numerous attempts have been made toobviate this disadvantage but they have not been entirely successful andhave in some cases resulted in the introduc tion of other objectionablecharacteristics in the girdle. For example, stiffening elements utilizedfor preventing rolling of the girdle are frequently objectionablebecause they stiffen in the waist portion of the girdle, interfere withthe elasticity thereof, and are for these and other reasonsuncomfortable. Furthermore, the use of stiffening elements adds bulktothe waistportion of the girdle while on the other hand, particularlyin view of present style trends the wearers waist should be as slenderas possibleand on that account'the use in connection with the girdle ofstiffening means is further undesirable.

In accordance with the present invention provision is made forpreventing the girdle from rolling and this is accomplished withoutstiffening the waist portion of the girdle or reducing the elasticitythereof and without substantially add ing to the bulk of the waistportion of the girdle. For this purpose provision is made for supportingthe waist portion of the girdle to prevent rolling thereof and tosupport the girdle in position by means suspended from the shoulders ofthe wearer and attached to the upper marginal edge 'portion of thegirdle.

The invention will be more fully understood from the followingdescription considered with reference to the accompanying illustrateddraw- In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view of the girdle and support therefor embodying thepresent invention, shown in position on the wearer;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the lower end of one of thestraps detached from the girdle;

Fig. 3 is an edge view in elevation of the part of the strap shown inFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end of a strap, the clasp beingshown in open position;

Fig. 5 is a view of the lower back portion of the supporting means,shown detached from the girdle;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the part shown in Fig. 5;

illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the girdle l0 illustratedinFig.1 of the drawing may be of any suitable construction and iscustomarily formed of two-way stretch fabric and also as usual, iscircumferentially continuous and elastic being ordinarily formed from atubular blank of two-way stretchfabric, Said girdle may be a pantygirdle, i; e., with a crotch piece, or an ordinary girdle. It will beunderstood that the upper edge of the girdle, when worn, is positionedat the waist of the wearer.

The means provided in accordance with the present invention forsupporting the girdle and for preventing rolling thereof, comprisesstraps i2 adapted to be suspended from theshoulder of the wearer andconnected to the-top marginal straps are relatively narrow and havesections it composed of fabric tape which is preferably inextensible.The front portions of straps I? are provided with buckles I8 and 2&1 foradjustment of the length of the strap. Similar buckles are provided atthe rear portions of the strap as The rear portions of the strap areconnected together in V formation by a strip of fabric tape 22, alsopreferably inextensible, passed through a buckle 24 and secured at itsopposite ends to buckles 29 at the back of the wearer. The front ends ofstraps I6 are connected to longitudinally elastic strap members 26associated with the clasp I4, and similarly at the back of thesupporting means, the strap portion 22 is connected by means of a buckle24 to a longitudinally elastic strap member 26 associated with the claspI4.

Clasp l4 comprises a jaw 28 having at one end thereof a slotted portion30 in which a looped 'end 32 of strap member 26 is secured. The otherlooped end 34 of strap 26 is secured to the metal ing and closingjaws-28 and 42 and also overlies and covers said jaws at the frontof'the clasp. It will be observed that a part of strap member 26 extendsover the back of the clasp thereby covering the latter and preventingcontact of the metal parts of the clasp with the wearers body.

When the supporting device is attached to the Said girdle, the upperedge portions of the girdle at the front thereof is engaged by a pair ofclasps [4, the material of the girdle being engaged between and claspedby the opposed jaws 28 and 42, while at the back of the girdle the claspl4 similarly engages the upper edge portion of the girdle centrall inthe back thereof. The length of straps l2 can be adjusted as desired bythe above described adjustable portions. It is thus seen that the girdleis properly supported in position on the wearer and that rolling of thewaist portion is effectively prevented. Thus it is seen that the girdleprovided with the supporting means of the present invention is free fromthe objectionable features of the prior art constructions particularlythe stiffening device heretofore utilized for preventing rolling, of thegirdle. It will be understood that the clasps I4 are thin and flat andtherefore do not add to the bulk at the waist portion of the girdle. Inthis connection, it will be further understood that the upper waistportion of the girdle: can be of a single thickness of material, itbeing unnecessary to fold the upper part of the girdle or to add to thethickness thereof by strips of fabric sometimes used for securing thestiffening stays or similar rollpreventing means of the prior artdevice.

Thus it is seen that the girdle and the supporting means therefor,herein shown and described be limited to the form of the inventionherein shown or described, except as may be required by the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent are:

1. Supporting means comprising a strap having an elastic end portion anda clasp attached to said elastic end portion, said clasp comprising afirst jaw member, a second jaw member pivotally connected to said firstjaw member, a cover and jaw-operating member pivotally connected to saidtwo jaw membersat one end of the clasp and operative to open and closesaid jaw members, said first jaw member having a slot at the oppositeend of the clasp, a part of said elastic strap covering the back of theclasp and connected at one end thereof to said clasp in said slot, and apart of said elastic strap being connected at the other end thereof tosaid cover member at the first mentioned end of the clasp, said endportion of the strap being folded between its ends, and a buckle throughwhich said end portion extends and which engages the latter at thefolded part thereof.

2. Supporting means comprising a strap having an elastic end portion anda clasp attached to said elastic end portion, said clasp comprising afirst jaw member, a second jaw member pivotally connected to said firstjaw member, a cover and jaw-operating member pivotally connected .tosaid two jaw members at one end of the clasp and operative to open andclose said jaw members, said first jaw member having a slot at theopposite end of the clasp, a part of said elastic strap covering thebackof the clasp and connected at one end thereof to said clasp in saidslot, a loop member connected to said cover member at the firstmentioned end of the clasp, said elastic strap being connected at theother end thereof to said loop member, said end portion of the strapbeing folded between its ends, and a buckle through which said endportion extends and which engages the latter at the folded part thereof.

NELL MOLINE PFANN.

